An overview of participative exercises of the game/simulation/case study type is provided, and seven distinct types of exercises are identified and briefly described; i.e., "pure" games; "pure" simulations; "pure" case studies; simulation games; games used as case studies; simulated case studies; and simulation games used as case studies. The…

Discusses the rationale for and use of minilabs (requiring from 15 to 90 minutes to complete) for freshmen chemistry experiments. Provides several examples, advantages for students and instructors, and results of a questionnaire evaluation completed by 83 students. (JN)

Describes an introductory laboratory format (used for 12 years at Colorado College) that involves students in the design and exploration phases of experiments. The laboratory features include choices of experiments; clearly explained goals; student selection of methods; wise equipment use; check-out procedures with instructor questions; and no…

The use of simple diagrams for instruction of first-year operative dental students is encouraged. A series of illustrations for Class I preparation of cavities, focusing on walls, line angles and point angles, is presented and its use described. (MSE)

The effects of temperature and pressure on the collapsing of soda cans are discussed. The use of various temperatures and substances for the cooling bath are described. (KR)

An exercise that uses a common bacterium, E. coli, in great numbers, to detect a demonstrable change in the ability of some cells to become resistant to the common antibiotic streptomycin is presented. The procedure for preparing and pouring the gradient antibiotic plates is provided. The advantages of using the Basic Fuchsin in the agar are…

Describes an instructional experiment that was designed to illustrate the use of periodate oxidation in sugar analysis, and the consequence that the absorbance of mixtures of non-interacting substances is additive. (TW)

Gel filtration is a form of liquid chromatography that separates molecules primarily on the basis of their size. Advantages of using this technique, theoretical aspects, and experiments (including procedures used) are discussed. Several questions for students to answer (with answers) are also provided. (JN)

Considered are the underlying ideas of nucleophilic substitution and some of the misconceptions regarding this topic. Discusses methods for teaching this topic and includes definitions for key ideas and terms. (Author/CW)

Alternatives to the traditional unknown tests that permit a clear and unequivocal differential identification decision between Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium are presented. Plates of Phenylethyl Alcohol agar with Blood (PEAB), slants of Bile Esculin agar and plates of DNA agar are used. The materials, methods, results, and conclusions…

Describes an effective laboratory method for demonstrating bacterial flagella that utilizes the Proteus mirabilis organism and a special harvesting technique. Includes safety considerations for the laboratory exercise. (MDH)

Using aerial photographs to study shrubs biomass allows students to avoid unpleasant working conditions and to study communities that are inaccessible or distant. (BB)

Proposes that identification keys provide an orderly strategy for the identification of igneous and metamorphic rocks in an introductory geology course. Explains the format employed in the system and includes the actual key guides for both igneous and metamorphic rocks. (ML)

Suggests a new experiment to study the genetic material of eukaryotes. It is based on the rapid growth and interest of the research on chromatin. (TW)

A cost-analysis competition was introduced into the experimental synthesis sequence of an organic chemistry course. Rationale for the approach as well as experiments involved are discussed. (JN)